Machine for the manufacture of cork taps



n 27 A. PARENT! ET AL MACHINE FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CORK TAPS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed A112. 29, 1924 June 28, 1927. 1,634,040

A. PARENTI ET AL MACHINE FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CORK TAPS Filed Aug. 29, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 9 so 82 i; 62

L; 76 I 6 25 i l p t I June 28, 1927.

A. PARENT! ET AL MACHINE FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CORK TAPS 4 Shasta-Shoot 3 Filed Aug. 29, 1924 I///////////////////////////////// r//// l l I June 28, 1927.

A. PARENTI ET AL MACHINE FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CORK TAPS Filed Auz. 29, L924 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented June 28, 1927.

UNITED STATES ARMANDO PAR-ENTI AND GIOVANNI BOLO G'NINI, OF GENOA, ITALY.

MACHINE FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CORK TAPS.

Application filed August 29, 1924, Serial No. 73 971, and in Italy September 6, 1923.

' any desired curvature of the corners.--

The invention will now be described with.

reference to the form of execution illustrated in the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of the improved machine; v

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the machine seen at a right angle with respect to Fig. 1 taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a partial sectional View of the machine taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 2 illustrating the detail of the stationary platform with operatin surfaces which control the displacement of the cork block to and from the emery disk and its rotation around its axis;

Fig. 4 is a partial sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1; i

Fig. 5 is a detail of the clamp bearing articulated bracket. on the rotatable platform;

Figures 6 and 7 are two partial sectional views of the detail of the fastening of the operating surfaces on the stationary platform.

In these figures in which similar numbers indicate the same parts, the cork blocks are introduced by hand from the outside in the quadrangular steeply inclined feed conduit. The sides of the feed conduit are articulated at its four corners so as to allow the adjustment of its four sides for different sizes of cork blocks to be machined. For this purpose the conduit'provides two opposite walls 1-1 fastened to hinges 2 which connect by means of pivoted arms 3 with blocks 4 movably guided by pins 5 with respect to the columns 6 which are rigidly fastened upon the casing of the machine. Whilst the hinges 2 are rigidly connected with the wall 1, these hinges e adjustably connected by means of 7 with the opposite wall 1a In Trier the wall l by means at four faces of the quad-' set screws 7 can be adjusted in its height upon the hinges 2 to regulate the height of the lower opening (Fig. 1) throughwhich the cork blockleaves the feed conduit. Integral with the wall a threaded socket 8 constituting the female part for the screw 9. supplied with hand wheel 10. In rotating the handwheel 10 in one sense of rotation the two walls 11( will be separated on,

account of the simultaneous separation of the blocks 4:; while upon rotation of the hand wheel 10 in the opposite direction the walls are moved together. 11 is a bell crank lever having one end hinged at-12 to the bracket 13 fastened to the casing of the machine and having the other'end fastened to a substantially vertical rod 14 which carries at its upper end a head which can be adjusted on this rod 1%: circumferentially as well as in its height. This head. is formed of two carriages" arranged angularly to each other which permits by respectively operating the hand wheels 16 and 17 to regulate the position of a spring clamp'18 with respect to the position of the lowest block in the feed conduit forthe transfer of this block from this conduit to the rotatable platform. This spring clamp in its backward position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1 grips the lowest block in the feed conduit between two springs an in its forward position indicated in full lines Fig. 1 brings this cork block into line with a pair of clamps on the rotatable platform. In order to impart to the spring clamp this oscillating movement the bell crank lever 11 is provided with a roller 19 which on account of the tension of the spring 14: is kept in contact'with the cam disk 20 which at each revolution effects oscillation of the spring clamp 18. The cam 20 has a camsurface consisting in. a notched portion and in a regularly curved portion and is adapted to effect by means of the notch portion a partial quick return movement of the spring clamp from the position of the clamps on the rotatable platform and is further adapted by means of one part of the regularly curved portion to effect a furtherback movement in which position the springclanip embraces the next cork block tobe' advanced. By means of a second part of the regularly curved portion of the cam a gradually proceedin g forward movement of the cork block to the axis of the clamps of the rotatable platform is disk The rotatable platform 21 carries upon its circumference eight oscillating brackets each of which is provided with a pair of clamps 2222 for gripping .and holding the cork blocks. This platform is keyed on the shaft 23 coupled by the interposition of gear Wheels 24.: with the motor shaft 25 pro-- vided with belt pulley 26. 27 is a disk mounted upon the shaft 28 which carries on its circumference a ring 29 having a face 30 faced with emery. The shaft 28 and therefore the disk 27 is rotated by belt pulley O1 in a direction opposite to that of the rotation of the shaft 23. During one revolution of the platform 21 each cork block accomplishes a complete rotation around its axis and four movements approaching and receding from the face 30 of the emery disk 27 by which operations the cork block is machined. The brackets 32 are of ll shape and on the web portion of each is rigidly fastened a pin 33. The bracke l 32 is besides r'otatably supported on pin 34 on the rotatable platform The clamps 22-22 are arranged on the brackets 32 as follows: The clamp 22 is fastened on one shank of the bracket and the other clamp 22 is arranged upon a bearing slidably arranged upon the pin 38. The shank of the-bracket 32 which carries the clamp 92 is hollowed out as at 4L2 and encloses three toothed wheels: a wheel 36 loose on pin 34-. a wheel 3? integral with clamp 22 and an intermediate whee The wheel 36 is formed with a sleeve 519 carrying a toothed wheel ll meshing; with the rack ll and this toothed wheel 40 and the rack 11 are enclosed within a casing 4.3. The rack ll by the interposition of a roller eel slides upon the cam surface of the stationary cam This cam disk presents a circumferential portion 46 of such conformation and shape thatthe rack 41 sliding upon this portion is subjected to a radial displacement towards the outside by which displace ment through the toothed wheels 40, 36, 38 and 37 the cork block between the clamps 22 22 is turned a complete rotation around its axis. A roller 47 coaxially arranged with the roller n is obliged to travel within a cam guide way 48 causing}; the rack 11 to be displam'etL radially inwar This guide way 48 presents three portions 4-8, 48" and 48. Of these portions, 48 is perfectly concentric with the shaft 23 so as to prevent the rotation of the cork "block in i s outwa'rrll movement; from the emery d'sk during the discharge op ration; 48 a portion by which the rack is displaced inwardly and 418' is again a portion concentric with 23 so as to prevent the rotation of the cork block during the period in which a block is inserted between the clamps 2222.

In order to obtain the approaching and recedine' movement of the blocks towards and from the face 30 of the emery disk, the bracket is subjected to an oscillating movement around the pin 3 1-. 'ihis oscillation is obtained by an adjustable rod if) carrying a iall 50 arranged to roll .upon tl e faces of four similarly urved o 'atine' plates 51 situated in succession and concentrically about the shaft and mounted upon the stationary platform integral with the casing of the machine.

The other end of the rod to also supplied with a ball bears against an arm 53 of the bracket 32 which arm is also connected by a spiral spring 5a with the body of the rotatable platform 21. The rod 49, in sliding upon the faces of the inclined plates 51, pushes upon the arm 53 to move the bracket with the cork block away from the emery disk. while the cork is moved against the emery disk by the spring 54.

ll hen the cork block is grasped by the clamps of the rotatable platform 21, the bracket 32 is in a position displaced from the emery disk so as to allow the fastening of the cork block in the clamps without subjecting the same to machining during this fastening operation. In this position the bracket 32 is held away from the emery face 30 by the rod l9 engaging a prominent 731i) 55 of the plate 51. Afterwards the rod 49 slides upon the relatively low portion F6 and finally slides upon the four faces of the several plates 51 during which travel "he cork block issubjected to four movelDQl-ril; approaching and recedingwith spect to the emery face 30 The rod sul sequently slides upon a salient portion 57 adapted to displace the bracket 82 rom the emery face 30 and to return. the bracket to its original position for the discharge of the machined cork block.

If the cork block is rotated upon its axis without the intervention of the rod l9 the bracket 32 would remain at a determiner constant distance from the emery disk 30 and the. cork block would be machined cylindrically with a diameter corresponding with its distance from the emery disk. If however at each quarter of a revolution, the rod 49 encounters the inclined plate SL-the some effects the oscillation of the bracket 3:2 moving the block away from the disc 30 exactly at the momentin which the corner is being machined at which time the cork block bep'ins rotating around its axis. cording to the amount of this nn-weinent t the bracket will bethe amount of to be taken off the corners armed lever 58 is provided the inclination Lil of which around the fulcrum 5?) can be regulated by adjusting the screw 60. The lever 58 is hii red with its lower fork shaped end to the disk (51 imparting to this disk ac cording to its inclination an axial displacement to the left or towards the right (Fig. I

2). Upon the circumferential edge of the disk tll are engaged the arms of three double armed levers 62, which levers, arranged at equal distances along this edge, have their fulcrum at 63 in brackets integral with the stationary platform The ether arms of the levers engage an annular piece 64; upon wnich also press rods 65 passing through the wall 52 and en ring the inclined operating plates 51, tension springs 6h being connected at one end with the wall 52 and at the other end with the plates 51.

67 are other tension: s1 rings arranged be tween the wall 52 and the annular piece 6st having for their purpose to normally main tain said annula 1 piece spaced from the wall 52. The operating plates 51 are fastened upon the wall 52 by means of pins 68 integral with the shanks 69 (Figures 6 and 7) which pins arefitted in grooves situated endwise on these plates. Whilst these pins engage the plates on one side a pin 70 forms a supporting means from the other side situated centrally between the two pins 68. By threading the screw 60 within the wall of the casing the inclination of the operating plates 51 is increased or vice versa.

After the cork block has been machined on the four faces and on the corners a roller 71 situated on the end of a double armed lever 72 engages the edge of a cam surface 73 (Fig. 3). The lever 72 has its fulcrum at 74 and the other end is hinged to the bearing 85 carrying the slidable clamp 22. The roll 71 in encountering this cam surface effects oscillation of the lever 7 2 around the.

fulcrum H and the opening of the clamps and the discharge of the cork block. As soon as the roll 71 disengages the cam surface 73 the lever 72 under the action of the spring 75 closes the clamps 22 22 upon a new cork block.

The improved machine also provides means adapted to protect the moving parts, bearings, shafts and the like against the penetration of cork powder which would otherwise affect the operation of these parts. For this purpose the rotatable platform 21 slides by means of an annular piece 7 6 upon a corresponding annular piece 77 fastened upon the stationary platform 52 whilst packing means are introduced between these two annular pieces for assuring a perfecttightness.

78 is acasing extending from the stationary )latform 52 to the wall of the machine this 1 7 ln order to regu casing also serving for the purpose of preventing accui'nulation of cork powder in the toothed wheels 2d of the countershaft.

The shaft 28, which carries the ewe; y disk 27 at one end and the pulley at the other end, rotates within a. sleeve 79 having rack teeth mezthing with a toothed wheel 8Q which permits the-shaft 28 and the emery disk 2, to be displaced axially. Between the sleeve 79 and the bearing 81 fastened upon. the wall of the casing is arranged an eccentric sleeve 82 which by means ofthe hand lever 83 can be circuinferentially displaced. and by this latter means the emery disk may be adjusted for the purpose of obtaining a uniform consumption the emery surface 30.

is a rod coupled with a lever 85-having its fulcrum at 86 and a hook at 87 adapted to engage a pin 88 integral with the rod 141-. In rotating the hand lever for 90 degrees under the effect of the spring 90 the rod 8% drops the hook 87 so that the same is engaged with the pin 88 of the rod l t for rendering the feeding device inactive if de sired.

The cork blocks are generally of irregular form and not of right angular conformation on all the six faces. This circumstance has been considered in creating the present improved machine which only removes the mininum quantity of cork material of the three faces which normally present a good quality of material and takes off a bigger quantity from the two faces which always present a more deficient quality of material It is also possible to introduce the cork block in the conduit in such position that, when it is embraced by the clamps, the cork material of the better grade is preserved while the less desirable material is removed in the formation of the tap.

1. In a cork machine, a rotatable support, a stationary support, pivoted brackets carried by the rotatable support, cork clampingmcans carried by the brackets, abrading means arranged adjacent the rotatable support, means normally tending to swing the brackets into a position for causing the corks held in the clamping; means to engage the abrading means, and means for retracting the bracket to displace cor s from the abrading means, said retracting means including a plurality of cam plates, rods engaging the cam plates and movable thereover and connected with the brackets, means connecting the cam plates with the stationary support, and means for adjusting the cam plates with respect to the stationary support.

2. In a cork machine, a rotatable support, a stationary support, pivoted brackets carried by the rotatable support, cork clamping means carried by the brackets. abrading means arranged adjacent the rotatable support, means normally tending to swing the brackets into a position for causing the corks held in the clamping means to engage the abrading means and means for retracting the bracket to displace corks from the abrading means, said retracting" means including means normally tending to advance the brackets toward the abrading means, circularly ar ranged hinged cam plates carried by the stationary support, push rods engaging the cam plates and acting upon the brackets, an adjusting lever and means connecting said lever With the cam plates whereby the latter may be simultaneously adjusted With respect to the stationary support.

3. A machine as claimed in claim 1 characterized by the provision of means for turn ing the clamping means in the brackets for successively hring'in different portions of a cork into position for engagement With the abrading means.

4:. In a cork machine, a rotatable support, a plurality of brackets pivoted on said support, a guide rod carried by each bracket, a rotatable clamping member carried by the bracket, a slidable clamping member mounted on the guide rod and adapted to coact with the rotatable clamping member to clamp a cork, a pinion rotatably mounted on the bracket, means for transmitting rotary movement of the pinion from the latter to the rotatable clamping member, a rack coaeting with said pinion, a stationary cam cone-ting With said rack, a lever connected with the slidable clamping member, and means for effecting angular displacement of the lever incident to rotation of the rotatable support.

5. A cork machine as claimed in claim t characterized in that each bracket is substantially U-shaped and that the clamping members are located between the parallel portions thereof.

6. A machine claimed in claim 4 characterized by the provision of means for swinging t 1e bracket relative to the rotatable support, said last mentioned means including rods connected with the brackets, an annular cam plate formed of a plurality of segments. and means for simultaneously displacing the several segments.

In testimony whereof We have signed our names to this specification.

ARMANDO PARENTI. GIOVANNI BOLO GNINI. 

